Here’s the White House press corp pool reports just in about President Obama’s two fundraisers tonight at the same Holmby Hills estate of soap opera producer Bradley Bell and his wife. The first was an outdoor fundraising reception and Foo Fighters musical performance for 1,000 people with limited Gen44 tickets costing $250, and general admission tickets $500. Later was a fundraising dinner for just 80 people with tickets costing $35,800. Proceeds from both events will go to Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee:

UPDATE POOL REPORT #2: Just after 8 p.m., pool was led into the main Spanish style house of the Holmby Hills estate of “The Bold and the Beautiful” producer Bradley Bell and his wife, Colleen. In a dining room under a large gilded chandelier, George Clooney was standing amid 7 or 8 round dining tables, chatting with Valerie Jarrett and two others. Seated at one table was actor Jim Belushi, at another, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. A Democratic official said there were 80 guests in the room. At 8:05, Obama entered to applause. Clooney was a few steps away from the president when he entered. Behind Obama was a giant antique-looking gold-framed mirror. Obama recognized Villaraigosa and Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Fox. About a half dozen waiters dressed in black stood in the back of the room. The ceiling, with wooden beams, was similar to what you’d see in a California mission. Obama’s opening remarks were his standard campaign stump speech. He talked about ending the Iraq war, creating jobs, healthcare, talking to Marines at the gym where he worked out in Hawaii; them thanking him for ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, everyone playing by same set of rules. “The other side has a very different view about where they want to take this country,” where it’s ok if just a few do well, and those left behind, it’s their own fault, he said.

POOL REPORT #1: President Obama’s motorcade left the Beverly Hilton at 6:14 PM and drove to the Holmby Hills estate of The Bold and the Beautiful producer Bradley Bell and his wife Colleen. Wilshire, Santa Monica and Sunset Blvds were closed. From the press van, a dozen or so people along the route took pictures of the motorcade with their cellphones.

Upon arrival, pool was led up a driveway to a muddy footpath that ran along the side of a gigantic back yard full of hundreds of people. (A Democratic official told pool there were 1,000 guests.) A canopy of olive trees covered the footpath. Orange, pink and white floodlights illuminated trees all over the yard. A large brightly lit concert stage was set up on one end of the yard.The Democratic official told pool that prior to our arrival, the Foo Fighters had performed “Walk,” “Learn to Fly,” “My Hero” and a solo performance of “Everlong” by lead singer Dave Grohl, who accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. Pool also missed earlier remarks by comedian Jack Black and actress Rashida Jones, the Democratic official said. Pool was not close enough to the crowd to spot anyone recognizable.

On stage, Colleen Bell introduced Obama. Speaking of the president, she said, “He reminds us that change doesn’t come easy or fast.” At 6:30 PM, Obama walked on stage to applause. He was wearing a dark suit.

Obama’s remarks will be provided in full by the WH, but in the meantime, here are some highlights. He joked about the weather being relatively cold for Los Angeles. “You guys are not used to this kind of weather, are you,” he said. He added: “This is balmy, people.” He also said he loved the Foo Fighters. They were tired of winning so many awards, so they said, “Let’s do something else tonight,” Obama said. Obama also thanked Rashida Jones and Jack Black. He mentioned that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had been named Permanent Chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (The pool could not see Villaraigosa.) Obama also said that the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., was present. An interpreter was on stage was translating Obama’s remarks into sign language.

Obama talked about the change he promised in the 2008 campaign and the depth of the nation’s economic troubles when he took office. “We did not fully comprehend at that point how deep this crisis would be,” he said. He mentioned the increase in jobs in recent months. “Don’t underestimate the changes we made,” he said. Also: “Our auto industry is saved, and General Motors is the No. 1 auto maker in the world again.” He said 2.6 million young people have health coverage who wouldn’t otherwise have it, had it not been for the healthcare law passed on his watch. “There are people whose lives have been saved because of the work you did in 2008,” he said. And: “As tough as things are, the changes we’ve made are remarkable, and they’re making a difference in the lives of people every single day.”

Obama spoke for 20 minutes. When he finished, the crowd applauded, and pool was led past basketball courts, multiple fountains, the driveway where Obama’s black SUV was parked, past the giant Spanish-style main house, a jacuzzi and swimming pool to a holding area in a pool house.

On Thursday, President Obama will attend other fundraising events in California — Corona Del Mar, San Francisco, and then leave the state.

47 Comments

But it comes expensive to taxpayers, and divisive. The guy is a joke, but good with the Hollywood, self-important crowd. So there’s that.

Derbysanass • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Ah yes, Derby. More intelligent rhetoric from the ‘clown class.’ Why not enlighten us with your brilliant plans for how YOU would have turned around the economy over the last 3 years.

Dave • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Derby should not answer your stupid question because Obama said he would fix the economy in 4 years and if he didn’t he would be a one term President. Those are his words.

Davesanasstoo • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Well gee Dave, things are looking pretty good from where I’m sitting, the stock market is way up, unemployment is coming down, and most economic indicators are pointing up. Especially from where ol’Shit For Brains GWBush left us when he road out of town. Sorry Dave, but you seem to be another one of those whiners who when they don’t get everything they want right away, they just bitch and moan. Get real dude. Obama inherited a shit storm. He’s doing just fine. And get used to it. He’s gonna be around for another 4 years.

Phyllis Bunner • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Amen

Lord Eugene Pepper-Hickory • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Foreclosures are up. Unemployment is not down (the government doesn’t count those who have left the workforce), the deficit is increasing (even with projected higher tax revenues), the national debt is skyrocketing and real wages are declining.

I don’t know what economic indicators you’re looking at, but even the data published by the feds look like hell. You don’t even want to know what isn’t being published by the Federal Reserve regional banks. I worked at the Fed years ago and still have a lot of friends there. They’re popping anti-depressants like candy corn at Halloween.

gobnait • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Really? You’re willing to settle for 8.3% unemployment (if we’re to believe the BLS dubious claims), gas prices climbing to record numbers, foreclosures increasing and the CBO’s predicting HIGHER unemployment, higher health insurance premiums and higher taxes while your wages stagnate? This is improvement? Do you have ANY standards or is it simply too painful to admit you were wrong about Obama?

Actor In L.A. • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

How cool that Bradley Bell and his wife hosted a fundraiser for Obama. I have worked on the soaps “The Young & The Restless” and “The Bold & Beautiful”, and know that Bradley Bell’s parents, who created both soaps, are from Chicago (or at least his mother is). Don’t know much about him, but his mother, whom I met before, is really nice. Just a little history in case someone’s wondering what’s the connection.

i was on y&r and b&b a couple of times myself • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

and capital, too. at the time brad was just a kid, and his sister was on the show. they were nice kids. glad he took over for the dad.

Prop 215 • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

I hope there weren’t any Medical Marijuana cancer patients in the audience, who every day feel the wrath of his gestapo squads in hooded-masks violating the 10th Amendment… he promised compassion, but what he gave us was terrorism against law abiding citizens in the 16 states that legalized the use of medicinal cannabis. Hope, Change..?

Gobama Nobama • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Why do they have to close so many major streets when he’s in town it’s disgraceful no other president ever did this it’s terrible he is a horrible inconvenience whenever he comes here.

Hank • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

It’s because Barack Obama is first and foremost all about him.

He’s among the world’s biggest hypocrites and as disingenuous a politician as one can be. An all-around horrible man.

Anonymous • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Grrrr! Grrrrrrrr! Grrrrrrrrr!

Remem • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

It was said before that Obama is considered a high-risk president and requires much tighter security than previous presidents. This could be the reason why the security measures were less elaborate for other presidents.

Actor In L.A. • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Maybe they need to protect him from people like Sarah Palin who thinks it’s ok to “target” politicians. Also, haven’t you seen how much Republicans want this black man out of office. Do the math as to why they would need to shut down as many streets (for security reasons, duh…).

Samuel • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

“Target” is a political term that has been used for years by Dems and Republicans alike.

If you want to argue a point, at least do so honestly. And stop blaming race. He’s a lousy president, regardless of his skin color.

gobnait • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

How convenient for you to forget that Democrats use the ‘target’ metaphor all the time. Does a strong, conservative woman frighten you?

Elmo Knows • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Hm… I don’t think so, buddy. Obama walked into the White House and inherited an unprecedented mess from the last administration who manufactured two wars while bringing taxes down to record lows, SIMULTANEOUSLY…

They lined the pockets of their buddy defense contractors for years before being exposed by the media (or they probably would’ve never stopped) while they further deregulated business and perverted Wall Street by extending such a license to steal with impunity that they came up with credit default swaps, taking bets on how long, hard-working poor and middle class people who were conned into taking on too much debt with hidden interest rate increases and late penalties, could pay their bills and stay in their homes as they watched jobs fly out of our country to people their former American employers could use to maximize their profit margins…

Facing all that and an absolutely batshit crazy, bloodthirsty Republican party bent on ruining his presidency before it even started by stopping him from achieving any of the specific goals he put forth to make a CHANGE that gave HOPE to the people who got him in office…

With all that vile nonsense floating around what did Obama do when he finally got a chance?

Let’s see. He…. Averted a Depression

He saved the American Auto Industry

He got Health Care passed (not perfect but neither was social security – you have to start somewhere, no one else could)

Wall Street Reform (again, not as much as he wanted originally but he got it rolling and now there’s going to be more).

Strengthened a Consumer Protection Bureau so it’s a threat to companies, not a joke.

He enacted meaningful Credit Card Reform

Extended Student Loans to a larger section of Americans.

He pulled ALL the Troops out of Iraq — ending a nine year, clusterduck of an unnecessary war sparked by sheer greed.

He assisted Libya and the UN in deposing the tyraniccal Mummar Ghadafi, who’s been committing crimes against humanity and screwing with the world economy from his strategic nest since 1969.

He repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

He got two women seated successfully on the Supreme Court AND… oh yeah, he shot Bin Laden in the face.

So I say Barack Hussein Obama has made a substantial number of positive changes that give people hope in this mess of a country since he’s been in office. And he himself said, in his Grant Park acceptance speech in downtown Chicago, that the clean up wasn’t going to be easy or quick, and that people would need to have faith and hope for the future by taking responsibility for what was within their control. He asked for Americans to think rationally versus reacting emotionally – to live socially responsible lives and develop their own conscientious voices to stand together and affect change by helping in their community, when there was an opportunity to do so.

So I’d say (and I know I’m hardly alone) that anyone who disagrees he’s sets a great example for our children and is a fine leader for our country is either delusional or shady.

Middle-class and upper middle-class Americans need to stop voting against their economic self-interest… The Joe the Plumber syndrome of fighting for rich people to keep more of their money so they can build up their hypothetical businesses that will all of a sudden magically create enough jobs for the majority of unemployed or underemployed Americans (on their honor) is just madness.

: )

elmoknowsshit • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

and how exactly did the ‘bloodthirsty republicans’ stop his presidency before it even started when he had a significant majority in the House and a super majority in the Senate? they couldn’t stop anything for the first two years.

he also promised he would change the tone of politics then quickly reminded the republicans that ‘i won’ when they tried to engage him in policy. he is nothing more than a run-of-the-mill chicago thug politician whose only qualification for the job was his ability (with the complicity of an interested news media) to fool so many people into believing that he was something he is not. hope and change was nothing more than a slogan to help get elected and if you believe otherwise than you are naive or stupid.

let go of your resentment and class envy. believe in an america where the greatest gift we have is the opportunity to succeed not the guarantee that you will.

and by the way, bailing out the uaw at the expense of the taxpayers is not saving the auto industry, it’s saving his union bosses.

savvydude • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Inherited? Uh, Obama was a sitting United States Senator when he CHOSE to run for President. Senators, including Obama, voted on policy that created the issues he “inherited”.

Nice try. Obama was, and is, completely without the experience to run our country.

the black chick... • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Preach Elmo! Preach!

Reagan had it wired • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

The way Reagan cruised down Olympic to the Century Plaza was a thing of beauty. If you happened to be trapped at a light when they passed, you marveled and the efficiency, and were on your way within minutes. Later Clinton stayed there to, because Secret Service had the whole thing wired.

Politics aside, Ronnie knew his way around LA. Meanwhile Obama is eating at the Roscoe’s on the westside and not the original??? WTF?

Sally • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

This is why our country is in trouble. Thoughts from people like above who are completely uneducated and UNAWARE.

sallyisanass • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

No our country is in trouble because of doe-eyed, ignorant people who voted for this clown and lap up all of his ridiculous class warfare and excuses. Freedom guarantees equal opportunity not equal results.

Paul • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Absolutely. Equal opportunity is the goal…. but if people fail, they fail. It’s not for successful people to have to pick up their shit.

Anonymous • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Grrrrrr! Talking points! Bubble! Imaginary Obama!

You’re a stereotype. A cliché. Have an original thought.

Anonymous's smarter half • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Grrrrr! Mindless liberal. Bubble headed. Imaginary Obama.

You’re a sterotype. A blind man. A bitter fool. Get a clue.

cj • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

There has always been “class warfare” in America but it’s only called that when the poor fight back.

Hank • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

The best way for the poor to fight back is to make more money and not be poor any more.

When those Occupy Wall Street idiots protest a lack of jobs with a “hiring” sign behind them at McDonalds, and then say McDonalds is beneath them, it’s hard to take them seriously.

gobnait • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Let’s not pretend that you don’t know that class warfare is a tool of the left wing to oppress minorities and the downtrodden. It’s that faction that supports increasing welfare programs that pay the poor barely enough to keep their heads above water and under the liberal thumb. It does NOT encourage self-sufficiency and self-respect and you know that as well as the rest of us do.

Just saying • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

I can’t wait to vote for him.

obama4ever • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Maybe Obama can save the soaps!

Hank • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

I have no problem with society helping people for a short-term trouble-spot in their life… or for longer if they are disabled or mentally unable to keep up. Compassion is key–up to a point.

But at a certain point, it’s up to people to be responsible for their actions: Poor people do not deserve to have children they cannot afford… having children is not a right, it’s a privilege. People on welfare should not be getting free money without working in turn, and there are plenty of jobs that illegals are doing that people on welfare can do. And if they don’t want to, fine… they get no more money or help, period. It’s very simple. And if they are unable to provide care for their children, the children get taken away by Child Welfare.

Lazy people who don’t bother to study or work hard or take school seriously should not be taken care of by those who do, and society is under no obligation to guarantee healthcare or “life” to people who made throughout their lives one bad decision after another.

If their family, friends, or a charity do not want to take care of them, TOUGH LUCK. Nothing in the Constitution guarantees that every irresponsible individual will have their bills picked up by the masses.

Enabling idiots or weaklings, for longer than a moderate bad phase, only brings down society further. At a certain point, people, given the choice of life and death, need to make a choice… more people will pursue life if they know there is no net to support them and as for those who still don’t… fine. Society is stronger without them around.

Stefany Cortland • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

ON A POSITIVE NOTE
I’am glad to see some of Hollywood,our mayor,(who just went to D.C.with all the other mayors to tell Congress to go to work), and others show up to this gathering.
After what’s been happening in the past year, it’s nice we can put it aside and perhaps behind to move on. This didn’t have to happen. Hollywood could have stayed away and Mr. Obamba could have stayed away too. It could have stayed ‘cold,’ but it didn’t. Moves are being made to rediscuss and reatablish ‘pool meetings,’
even if they’re freezing their little behinds off, ’cause it’s cold out there. What troopers! Oh, and also, thank you Nikki and DEADLINE for bringing us close to this as if we were there too. You’re the best!

mbm2 • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

this is why we need to tax the rich.

if Obama wants to win the 2012 elections, he needs to cut ties with Hollywood and Wall Street.

taxPAYER • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

If he cuts off Hollywood and Wall Street, who the hell is going to finance his campaign?

mbm2 • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

OWS LA was protesting outside this 1%er shindig. wonder if any of the celebs saw them?

john lindauer • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

with Romney as the GOP nominee – obama wins 24 states. (all the big ones except texas) and wins reelection in a walk.

with Santorum as the GOP nominee – obama wins 38 states (all the big ones + a few more for good measure) and wins in a landslide.

GOP: see you again in 2016. thanks for playing.

Doc • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

You forgot one:

With Ron Paul as the GOP nominee – Obama loses.

Nomad • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Doc, from your mouth to the goddess’s ears!

zangadoo • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

The list is growing of actors whose movies we can avoid.

WestCoastDrags • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

So, I am guessing that only the 1% could afford tickets to this lovely affair?

What a joke…

Davey • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Jim Belushi is a Democrat?

Gordon Cole • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

Here’s the play. Hillary goes to the World Bank where she can continue to exercise her megalomania without threatening to upstage Obama. Biden gets eased out and moved over to Secretary of State, freeing up the VP slot for Villaraigosa, whose historic candidacy as the first Latino Vice President will nail down an overwhelming majority of this voting bloc for Obama. Combined with the solid Black vote and the college grad/upper income slice of the white liberal vote, this gets Obama to the Electoral College plurality he needs to secure a second term. All Hollywood will rejoice.

Remember, you heard it here first.

Alex • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

So these are the GOOD rich? They’re going to pay their FAIR SHARE, $35.800 per plate.

Cjiswrong • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

The poor can work hard and succeed just like everyone else. Then soon enough, they’re not poor anymore. If you want to blame anyone for the institutionalizaton of a permanent lower class, unable or unwilling to lift themselves up from poverty, look no further than the Democrat party who for decades have funneled trilliions of dollars to teachers unions under the guise of helping failing public schools only to enrich the union bosses and unqualified teachers and administraitors who continue to fail our children and keep them from succeeding. Of course the Democrats don’t mind because a government-dependent permenant lower class means more people voting for democrats. And the vicious cycle continues.

Memory • on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 pm

“I won’t give him a dime anymore” they said during the SOPA soap. A couple of weeks later, how many of them paid $35k to attend?